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Hachiro Tagami

Publications and source records attributed to Hachiro Tagami.

69 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Demonstration of characteristic skin surface contours of extramammary Paget's disease and parapsoriasis en plaque by image analysis of negative impression replicas.

The surface contours of lesional skin of certain skin diseases, such as parapsoriasis en plaque (PEP) and extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD), in which there is a massive infiltration by non-epidermal cells, looks somewhat different from that of the adjacent normal skin, needless to state that they are apparently different from that of ordinary chronic inflammatory dermatoses where we found acanthotic epidermis accompanied by hyperkeratosis. We attempted to objectively characterize these unique skin surface changes qualitatively and quantitatively using non-invasive methods. Negative impression replicas were taken from the lesional skin of patients with EMPD or PEP as well as from the adjacent uninvolved skin. The findings were confirmed histologically. The replicas were examined by using computerized image analysis. Several parameters were analyzed that correlate with the changes in the anisotropy of the skin furrows (VC1), average skin roughness (KSD), average length of skin furrows (LEN), and number of skin furrows (NUM). There were significant decreases in KSD and NUM in EMPD, indicating a smoother skin surface in the lesional skin than in the adjacent normal skin. In contrast, the PEP lesion had an increase in VC1 and LEN and a decrease in NUM, which suggests larger skin ridges in the lesional skin than in the uninvolved skin. Thus the unique skin surface of the cutaneous disorders accompanied by epidermal invasion by non-epidermal cells, such as EMPD and PEP, was characterized both qualitatively and quantitatively using computerized image analysis of negative impression replicas.

Female↗
PubMed2002

Decreased IL-10 production by psoriatic peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with streptococcal superantigen.

The strong association of acute guttate psoriasis and streptococcal throat infection has suggested a role for streptococcal antigens in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We have reported that psoriatic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed significantly lower responses to cytoplasmic membrane-associated protein (CAP) isolated from group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, a kind of streptococcal superantigen. The objectives were to evaluate the abnormal cytokine production by psoriatic PBMCs to streptococcal superantigen, CAP. We compared the production of four different cytokines, i.e. IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IFN-gamma, by PBMCs between psoriatic patients and healthy controls after stimulation with CAP or two different staphylococcal superantigens, staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) or E (SEE). When PBMCs were stimulated with CAP, the production of IL-10 was significantly lower by psoriatic PBMCs than by those from healthy controls, whereas those of IL-4, IL-5, or IFN-gamma were not different between the two groups. Such a significant decrease in IL-10 production by psoriatic PBMCs was not observed when they were stimulated with staphylococcal superantigens. Flow cytometric analysis of intracytoplasmic IL-10 demonstrated defective IL-10 production by psoriatic PBMCs in both CD3+ T cells and CD14+ monocytes. There was a significant positive correlation between IFN-gamma production by PBMCs and the proliferation of Vbeta8+ T cells preferentially stimulated by CAP. These data demonstrating the defective IL-10 production by psoriatic PBMCs stimulated with streptococcal superantigen seem to explain why only psoriatic patients evolve sustained and Th-1 deviated skin lesions after streptococcal upper respiratory infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Three-dimensional analyses of individual corneocytes with atomic force microscope: morphological changes related to age, location and to the pathologic skin conditions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The past morphological studies on individual corneocytes have so far mainly focused on their two-dimensional characteristics, particularly on their projected area, which have been widely employed for the estimation of the turnover rate of the stratum corneum because of the practical use. However, sometimes a poor correlation has been reported between the projected area of corneocytes and actually measured turnover time of the stratum corneum. The objective of the present study is to perform detailed three-dimensional measurements of individual corneocytes with atomic force microscope. Through analyses of the obtained data, we tried to find morphological parameters that reflect more closely the differentiation process of the corneocytes in the stratum corneum than the frequently used two-dimensional projected area. METHODS: We measured such morphological parameters as the volume, average thickness and real surface area of individual corneocytes isolated from the covered skin (the flexor surface of the upper arm) and the exposed skin (the cheek) of 12 healthy individuals belonging to different age brackets, in addition to their projected area. We further introduced a new parameter, a flatness index calculated by dividing the projected area of corneocytes by their thickness. Similarly, we measured corneocytes obtained from eight patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriatic patients. RESULTS: Obtained results showed that most of these morphological parameters varied greatly depending upon the anatomical location and age of the subjects. Needless to say great differences were found between healthy skin and lesional skin of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. However, the volume and thickness of corneocytes collected from the same location of normal skin of the covered area (upper arm) with tape-strippings were noted to decrease as they differentiated in the stratum corneum, showing an increase in their surface area and projected area with a resultant increase in the flatness index. Moreover, the corneocyte collected from the lesional skin of AD or psoriasis showed a great decrease in flatness index, reflecting their poor differentiation in the stratum corneum due to its enhanced turnover rate. Most of all, we found a poor correlation between the projected area and the various three-dimensional morphologic parameters of the corneocytes, indicating that the projected area does not reflect the volume or thickness of corneocytes that are also greatly influenced by the differentiation process of corneocytes in the stratum corneum. CONCLUSIONS: To estimate the differentiation speed of the corneocytes, we suggest using their flatness index rather than the two-dimensional cell surface area, because the former is a concept that takes into account the three-dimensional characteristics of corneocytes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Altered water barrier function in epidermal-type fatty acid binding protein-deficient mice.

We have generated mutant mice for epidermal-type fatty acid binding protein by the gene targeting technique and examined the phenotype in detail. Despite a lack in the expression of epidermal-type fatty acid binding protein mRNA and its protein in the skin and other tissues of the mutant mice, the animals appeared normal in gross and histologic examination. Northern blot analysis of other fatty acid binding proteins revealed a distinct elevated gene expression of heart-type fatty acid binding protein in the skin of the homozygous mice. In analyses of the skin, no differences were observed in contents of major fatty acids, electron microscopic appearance as well as inflammatory responses in ear skin between the mutant and wild-type mice. Basal transepidermal water loss of homozygous mice was lower than that of the wild mice. When acetone was applied to the skin for disruption of the water permeability barrier, recovery in transepidermal water loss was delayed, although maximum transepidermal water loss upon acetone treatment was similar between homozygous and wild-type mice in terms of size and time course. The molecular mechanism by which epidermal-type fatty acid binding protein contributes to the water barrier function of the skin remains to be elucidated.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Cord blood CD34+ cells differentiate into dermal dendritic cells in co-culture with cutaneous fibroblasts or stromal cells.

The skin is a unique organ that contains two different subsets of dendritic cells, i.e., Langerhans cells and dermal dendritic cells. Our hypothesis is that cutaneous fibroblasts may affect the development of these dendritic cells. We cocultured cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells with several human cutaneous fibroblast cell lines without any exogenous cytokines for 3 wk. In this culture, hematopoietic progenitor cells increased in number from 20.1 +/- 2.4 times, and produced aggregates of cells with dendritic processes. They were composed of 54.9 +/- 3.2% HLA-DR+ CD14+ CD1a-- cells and 13.8 +/- 3.6% HLA-DR+ CD1a+ cells, which also expressed CD11b and CD11c. There were significant numbers of factor XIIIa+ cells in the culture, whereas no Lag+ or E-cadherin+ cells were detected, and they were potent stimulators in allogeneic T cell activation. There was a significant difference in the ability to induce CD1a+ cells among different human cutaneous fibroblast cell lines. These CD1a+ cells lacked the expression of CD80, CD86, or CD83. In addition, half of them still expressed CD14. When these dendritic cells were cultured with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, however, they became mature dendritic cells with augmented expression of CD86 and CD83 and with increased allogeneic T cell stimulation. The subsequent experiment using a dividing chamber, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and the blocking studies with antibodies for these cytokines suggested that both the presence of direct contact between hematopoietic progenitor cells and human cutaneous fibroblast cell lines and macrophage colony-stimulating factor produced by human cutaneous fibroblast cell lines are required for their maximum growth and differentiation into CD1a+ dendritic cells, whereas macrophage colony-stimulating factor was solely responsible for their differentiation. These data suggest that cutaneous fibroblasts support the differentiation of dermal dendritic cells in addition to that of monocytes from hematopoietic progenitor cells by their direct contact with hematopoietic progenitor cells and by their macrophage colony-stimulating factor production.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗
PubMed2002

Malignant melanoma arising from cutaneous bronchogenic cyst of the scapular area.

Bronchogenic cyst, an uncommon developmental anomaly that originates from the primitive tracheobronchial tree, is rare in the skin. The shoulder region is a particularly rare location. We report a 46-year-old Japanese man with recurrent malignant melanoma that arose from such a cutaneous bronchogenic cyst in the left scapular area. Despite wide local excision and subsequent chemotherapy, he died 18 months after surgery of the melanoma because of its lung metastasis. This is the first case of bronchogenic cyst in which malignant melanoma occurred.

Bronchogenic Cyst↗
PubMed2002

Protruding tumorous angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) of the scalp accompanied by arterial occlusion.

We report a case of an extraordinarily large tumorous form of ALHE developing on the occiput of a 57-year-old Japanese male. Histologically, it was characterized by increased numbers of small blood vessels, fibrosis, and lymph follicle formations with massive eosinopilia in the dermis in addition to an occluded artery in the deep dermis.

Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia↗
PubMed2002

Cholinergic urticaria, a new pathogenic concept: hypohidrosis due to interference with the delivery of sweat to the skin surface.

BACKGROUND: Acetylcholine has been suspected to be a pathogenetic factor for cholinergic urticaria (CU), without definite evidence. In contrast, there are scattered reports of CU associated with acquired generalized hypohidrosis. We have recently examined 2 patients with CU in both of whom we noticed the presence of extensive hypohidrosis that occurred only in winter. OBJECTIVE: In these 2 patients, acquired hypohidrosis due to superficial obstruction of the acrosyringium was suspected as the cause. Both case 1, a 22-year-old Japanese man, and case 2, a 21-year-old Japanese man, began to have anhidrosis and numerous red macules on their body whenever they felt hot in winter. These symptoms ceased to appear in summer. METHODS: We studied histologically their lesional skin in addition to provocation tests for CU. RESULTS: The diagnosis of CU was confirmed by the provocation of typical wheals after physical exercise in both cases. Histological study revealed findings suggestive of the presence of occlusion of the superficial acrosyringium. CONCLUSION: We think that such a hypohidrosis due to occlusion of superficial sweat ducts may also play a role in many other patients with CU of unknown etiology that becomes exacerbated in winter when sweating is not a frequent event.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2002

Comparison of the effects of daily applications between topical corticosteroid and tacrolimus ointments on normal skin: evaluation with noninvasive methods.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the skin changes of the neck of normal individuals after repeated applications of moderate-strength corticosteroid or tracrolimus ointment for 3 weeks by use of noninvasive biophysical measurements. METHODS: A 0.12% betamethasone-17-valerate ointment or a 0.1% tacrolimus ointment was applied to the right side of the neck of 8 adult volunteers twice daily for 3 weeks together with control petrolatum applied to the left side of the neck for comparison. Biophysical skin measurements were performed on the neck skin before, 1 and 3 weeks after the start of the treatment and 1 week after the cessation of the treatment. RESULTS: A decrease in hygroscopicity and water-holding capacity of the stratum corneum (SC) when evaluated with the in vivo water sorption-desorption test was found on the corticosteroid-ointment-treated side after 3 weeks of the treatment as compared with the petrolatum-treated side. The erythematous reaction to a topically applied 0.1% aqueous solution of methyl nicotinate, a vasodilator, appeared more slowly on the corticosteroid-ointment-treated skin than on the control skin. No such changes were observed on the skin treated with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus appears to cause few if any functional changes in the SC of healthy human skin because of its poor permeability into skin with an intact barrier function.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2002

Acute diffuse and total alopecia of the female scalp. A new subtype of diffuse alopecia areata that has a favorable prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Although alopecia areata (AA) usually starts with focal lesions of hair loss and then presents several different clinical forms, AA may begin as diffuse hair loss. We examined 9 female patients who presented with acute, diffuse and total hair loss of the scalp and took a similar clinical course with a favorable prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To categorize such cases as a new subgroup of diffuse alopecia. METHODS: We studied 9 patients who showed acute, diffuse and total hair loss of the scalp within 1 month after their first visit to our hospital by comparing their clinical course, laboratory tests and histopathological findings with those of common, patchy AA, alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis. RESULTS: None of the patients had a background of systemic diseases or telogen effluvium. All the patients were female, and 8 of the 9 cases recovered cosmetically acceptable hair growth within 6 months regardless of steroid administration. The histology of he lesions was indistinguishable from that of AA except for a remarkable eosinophilic infiltrate. CONCLUSIONS: These cases can be categorized as a new subtype of inflammatory noncicatricial alopecia that is characterized by a marked female predominance, tissue eosinophilia and uniquely short clinical course. We suggest to name it 'acute diffuse and total alopecia of the female scalp (ADTAFS)'.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

A portable device using a closed chamber system for measuring transepidermal water loss: comparison with the conventional method.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is frequently used to evaluate the barrier function of the stratum corneum (SC) of diseased skin in vivo, as well as normal skin damaged by external injurious agents. For this purpose, most people use biophysical instruments, based on an open chamber system, measuring the water vapor pressure gradient produced above the skin surface by vapor passing through the SC barrier. Recently, we tested a new portable device (Model H4300 NIKKISO-YSI CO., LTD., Tokyo, Japan) based on a closed chamber system. Its measuring principle is based on a computed TEWL estimation, from the progressive increase in relative humidity inside a closed chamber, due to continuous water evaporation from the skin surface on which the chamber is placed. METHODS: We conducted an in vivo comparative study between the new portable device and a conventional method, using the DermaLab (Cortex Technology, Hadsund, Denmark), on both healthy and diseased skin surfaces, under well-controlled, standardized, experimental conditions (21 degrees C and 50% relative humidity). RESULTS: We found that the sensitivity of the new device was similar to that of the DermaLab. For example, the poor SC barrier function of normal facial skin was clearly demonstrated by significantly higher TEWL values than those of the extremities (P<0.0001). The compromised barrier function of the lesional skin of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis was also demonstrated in a severity-dependent fashion. However, the TEWL values measured with the new device were much lower than those obtained with the DermaLab, probably reflecting differences in the methodological principles. Nevertheless, they correlated well with those of the latter method (P<0.001). For the instruments compared in the present study, we found the following equation useful for conversion: [corresponding value obtained with the DermaLab]= 1.42 x [the recorded value with Nikkiso-YSI Model H4300] + 1.892. CONCLUSIONS: We consider this closed chamber system practical because it can be carried easily and its portability enables TEWL measurements to be taken in any location, without ensuring a special environment against air turbulence. Moreover, it is far less expensive than other devices currently available.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Characterization of the physical properties of the stratum corneum by a new tactile sensor.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The physical properties of the stratum corneum (SC) change with its water content, which is regulated by the presence of water solutes (natural moisturizing factors) and lipids in the SC, and are considered to be responsible for the induction of desquamation, skin surface roughness, and fine wrinkles. Recently a new type of tactile sensor developed for evaluating the physical properties of objects has been introduced as a simple, non-invasive method to evaluate them; because the data obtained with this sensor have not yet been characterized in detail, we compared them with other physical parameters of the skin. METHODS: A change in resonant frequency (Deltaf ) was measured under various levels of pressure applied by a tactile sensor placed on the cheeks of 29 women. We also measured high-frequency conductance that reflects the hydration state of the skin surface, water holding capacity of the SC, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin flexibility, skin elasticity, amino acid composition of the SC, and desquamation index of the SC at the same time, and evaluated the correlation between Deltaf and other physical parameters. RESULTS: The correlation between Deltaf and high-frequency conductance of the SC, and that between Deltaf and the water holding capacity of the SC were substantially high. Deltaf under high pressure was more closely correlated with the acidic amino acid ratio of the SC. Deltaf also showed a correlation with desquamation index for thickness of the SC as well as with skin elasticity, independent of the applied pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Because Deltaf determined with the tactile sensor correlated with other physical parameters specific to the properties of the SC, such as high frequency conductance of the SC, its water holding capacity, ratio of acidic amino acids, and the desquamation index for thickness, the physical properties of the SC may be adequately evaluated with the measurements of Deltaf.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impairment of skin barrier function is not inherent in atopic dermatitis patients: a prospective study conducted in newborns.

We conducted a cohort study to determine whether the barrier dysfunction of the stratum corneum that facilitates the penetration of various exacerbating agents from the environment is inherent in atopic dermatitis patients as suggested by some dermatologists. Clinical observation and biophysical measurements of the skin were performed on the cheek and on the flexor forearm of 24 newborn infants once between 2 and 14 days postnatally and 1, 3, and 6 months later. Nineteen had atopic family histories. Most of the infants had physiologic neonatal xerosis that was observed as a reduced high-frequency conductance without any impairment in the stratum corneum barrier function assessed by transepidermal water loss. Four of the 24 neonates developed atopic dermatitis around 2 to 3 months after birth. In all of them, barrier impairment noted as increased transepidermal water loss was observed only after the development of skin lesions. During their neonatal period, their transepidermal water loss and skin surface hydration state were indistinguishable from those of the neonates whose skin remained lesion-free during the observation period. Therefore, we concluded that the barrier impairment found in atopic dermatitis is not inherent but represents a phenomenon secondary to dermatitic skin changes.

Biological Transport↗